The European Ryder Cup wildcard selection Nicolas Colsaerts will be the first Belgian to appear in the event. Photograph: Chris Clark/PA Wire
José María Olazábal would settle for the competitive days of the Ryder Cup proving as straightforward as his European wildcard picks.
Olazábal was widely expected to name Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts as his captain's selections for the meeting with the United States at Medinah next month. At noon on Monday in the Gleneagles hotel, the Spaniard duly obliged.
Poulter's formidable Ryder Cup record rendered him a sensible selection for Olazábal, regardless of the Englishman's refusal once again to participate in the Johnnie Walker Championship. Poulter will fancy himself to defeat any American opponent, as the former Europe captain Colin Montgomerie has acknowledged.
"I said at the end of play two years ago, if Poulter was 50th on the list, you would pick him," Montgomerie said. "It's just the confidence of the guy, and that's what any captain wants is a team full of confidence."
Olazábal concurred. He said: "There are obvious reasons for picking Ian. He has a great Ryder Cup record and he is playing well. His attitude and spirit in the Ryder Cup has always been great."
Colsaerts, too, has looked perfectly at home in a matchplay environment having won the Volvo World Match Play title three months ago. The big-hitting Belgian was runner-up in the same tournament a year earlier.
"Nicolas is the only rookie in an experienced team," Olazábal added. "He has had a very solid season and on top of that has made an extra effort to make the team.
"He really showed me that he wanted to make it. His desire and determination to be there was huge.
"Medinah is a long course. Length can be a factor but we all know the most important thing is how many putts are made. I think Nicolas's game is suited to the golf course."
Colsaerts and Poulter thereby join Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Sergio García, Lee Westwood, Peter Hanson, Paul Lawrie and Martin Kaymer in forming the European contingent for Chicago.
Europe's hopes of defending the Ryder Cup have been boosted by recent success stories. García, McIlroy and Lawrie have won tournaments, belying the widely held theory that the USA are justifiably strong favourites. What does, obviously, work to the Americans' benefit is that they will play at home but they also have three rookie players already within Davis Love III's party: Webb Simpson, Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley.
"Winning tournaments builds confidence and that is crucial," Olazábal said. "What you need in winning teams is confident players."
Olazábal's mission thereafter was to prevent discussion about one player who will not feature in his team from proving a distraction. Padraig Harrington's case over that of Colsaerts was not particularly strong but the Irishman will still ask why his candidature was dismissed so publicly by Olazábal.
The affair only fuelled speculation that a personal grievance Olazábal has towards Harrington had come into play even if, in reality, the three-times major winner did not do enough over the qualifying period to merit inclusion. Harrington's recent Ryder Cup performances also did little to boost his case.
"I spoke to him [Harrington] last night," Olazábal said. "I was very straight and to the point. I know he tried hard but he was 19th on the list, just a little down the list. I know he is a great player and I would love to have him in the team – the same as Paul Casey or Robert Karlsson – but you need to be playing good. I think he took it well."
Unsurprisingly, Colsaerts and Poulter had greater cause for cheer.
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